Fence-wire tightener.



NITED STATES Patented June 2 1903.

RANDOLPH A. WINTERS, OF ATWOOD, KANSAS.

FENCE-WIRE TIGHTEJN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,9 dated June 1903- Application filed June 12,1902. Serial No. 111,394.. (No model.)

a citizen of the United States, residing atAt wood, county of Rawlins, and State ofKansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Tire 'Tighteners, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fence-wire tighteners, and is designed as an improvement on the fence-wire 'tightener, particularly the chuck, set forth in United States Letters Patout No. 696,291, granted to me March 25, 1902.

The object of the present invention is the provision of an improved and novel chuck or holding device for the staple which is used to take up slack in the fence-wire, my aim'being to simplify the chuck and render it cheaper to manufacture and at the same time provide a chuck which may be quickly and easily opened and closed. T

Having the foregoing object in view, the invention consists of certain improved features and novel combinations of parts set forth in This engagement of the hooked end of the arm with the wire holds the tool rigid, and a detail hereinafter and recited in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a View illustrating the initial' position of the staple and the tool; Fig. 2, a view showing the positioirof the tool and illustrating the bend formed after the tool has-completed its work; Fig. 3, a detail of the bend formed in the fence-wire; Figs. 4: and 5, details of the improved chuck constituting the present invention; Fig. 6, a detail view of the chuck before connection to the handle.

The tool on which the present invention is used has a handle 1, with a rightangular arm 2 formed integral therewith provided with hooked end 3.

The numerals l and 5 designate twin jawshaving flat tapered ends 6 wedged in a rectangular opening 7 in the handle 1 and secured together by the rivet or fastening 8.

manner of tapering the jaws and securing them gives their heads or free ends a tendency to spring apart to a limited degree, due also to the inherent resiliency of the metal of which they are made.

The heads of the jaws are provided on their inner and adjacent faces with parallel grooves 9 and 10, spaced apart sufficiently to properly receive the legs of the staple 11, whichis used to tightenthewire. "In one jaw is provided a square hole 12 and in the other jawa round hole 13. A threaded bolt 14 passes through these ho1es,"being provided with a head 15 at one end, a squared portion 16 received in the square liole 12 to prevent turning, and has a wing-nut 17 on its screw-threaded end, whereby the jaws may be clamped on the staple inserted in the grooves to hold the staples securely while the wire is being tightened In using'the invention when it is desired to take up the slack in fence-wires a staple 11 is made to straddle the fence-wire, as shown in Fig. 1. Its legs are inserted in the grooves of the jaws and the jaws clamped thereon. The handle is then given a threequarters turn toward the right and the hooked end on the arm brought under the fence-wire, whereupon it will be as shown in Fig. 2.

binding-wire 18 is then slippe'dfthrough the closed end of the staple and its ends twisted a few times around the fence-wire 011 opposite sides of the staple. The tool can then be removed, andzthe joint or bend'formed will remain permanent.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1.' In a fence-Wire tightener, the

combinaition with a handle having an opening, of a chuck comprising jaws provided with wedge shape or tapered ends fitted tightly in the opening, whereby their free ends spread apart of: their own tendency, and a clamping de ICO ' tion With a handle having an opening, of a l and having a squared portion fitting a sinii- 1o chuck comprising resilient or springy jaws 1ar opening in the jaw, and a clamping-nut provided with flattened Wedge shape or! on the bolt.

tapered ends fitted tightly in the opening in In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 5 the handle, whereby the free ends of the jaws signature in presence of two Witnesses.

have a tendency to spread apart, said jaws RANDOLPH A. WINTERS.

at their free ends being provided with matchi Vitnesses: ing pairs of grooves, a screw-threaded bolt A. A.- THOMAS, passing through the free ends of the jaws CORA M. SHIRLEY. 

